Quick Tip: Your Studying Environment and Prioritizing Yourself

A lot of the time, we devote our studying time to understanding specific concepts for the LSAT. This is wonderful and, of course, encouraged. However, your mental state and environment matter just as much, sometimes even more! Always make sure you are completing your practice tests in an environment that mimics test day. Think of practice tests as a thermometer—they are a way of assessing where you are at in your learning process. However, if I put a thermometer in California, but I live in Maine, I am going to get incorrect readings. That being said, always ensure that you take practice tests and problem sets in an environment that mimics test day!

Discussion: Mindfulness and the LSAT

I have a peanut allergy. I have to bring my Epi-Pen absolutely everywhere with me. I need to properly plan in case the worst scenario happens—I eat a peanut. This planning helps me combat the anxiety I experience. Likewise, everyone needs a plan for the worst-case scenario on the LSAT—freezing.  By providing you with a plan to deal with anxiety below, I will be able to help you compose a plan in case this worst-case scenario does arise.

Northwestern University recently did a study on test anxiety and found mindfulness strategies can help you loosen worries from your mind. For those of you unsure of what I mean by mindfulness, mindfulness is a mental state that allows you to focus completely on the present. This state allows you to be aware of what is happening in the moment without interruption or anxiety. Northwestern’s research found that eliminating stress and nerves can boost your exam performance. 

I have created several Mindfulness Drills for my students. In this newsletter, I intend to share two with you below.

My personal favorite is the Five Senses drill. This drill intends to encourage mindfulness by bringing us comfort within our environment and slowing our brain down to the task at hand. The drill encourages you to use all five of your senses to relax your mind and to situate yourself in your environment. You will begin the drill by noticing five things that you see in your room, such as a desk, a pencil, a television, a pen, and an eraser. Following that, you will then notice four things that you feel. After noticing these four things, you will then switch to three things that you can hear. For example, as I write this newsletter, I hear my dog barking, the beeping of some cars, and the tapping of the keys on my computer. Then we get to smell: you will try to notice two things that you smell. And lastly, you want to notice one thing that you taste. Although this exercise is wonderful to do prior to taking the LSAT to get you in the right mindset, it can be a bit lengthy. I always advise my clients to have a quick mindfulness exercise ready mid-test, in case they freeze. So, for example, during my exam, I particularly found that finding four things I could feel slowed my brain down and put me back into the LSAT mode.

A second mindfulness exercise you can try is called a “body scan.” This exercise promotes relaxation and is an incredible way to release stress and any negative energy. You want to begin by either lying down or sitting in a chair; regardless of what you choose, you want to be comfortable. You then want to close your eyes and begin focusing on your breathing, noticing how your body takes in air and then exhales it. Then you want to begin with any body part. I always begin with my feet because I go from the bottom up. You want to put your full awareness into the sensations of the body part you choose and acknowledge any pain or discomfort. By noticing them, you can let them pass. You should move along with the scan, continuing the exercise with every part of your body.

Slow down. I want you to take a deep breath and look at yourself in the mirror. Although it may sound silly, I want you to put your hands on your hips (in that superhero-like pose) with your head up high. Say to yourself, “I am prepared. I am confident. I am amazing.” Although you may not believe the words you are saying, I do. I know that every single one of you reading these newsletters is prepared, is confident, and is amazing.